How to Repair a Scratched Eyeglass Lens

Jason CandanedoUpdated March 23, 2017

As an owner of eyeglasses, scratches are a way of life, meaning that they will happen at some point and they may occur frequently. Your eyeglasses can become scratched by accidentally dropping them, leaving them on an abrasive surface or even falling asleep with them on. But instead of pulling out your wallet and paying for a new pair, you can fix these scratches in your own home, with some simple ingredients.

Squeeze a small amount of toothpaste on a cotton swab.

Carefully place and smear the toothpaste on the scratched areas of the eyeglasses with the cotton swab, and allow it to settle for several minutes.

Rinse off the toothpaste with warm water until all residue is gone.

Blot the lenses until they are dry with a non-abrasive towel.

Clean the lenses with an eyeglasses cloth.

Place a small amount of Armour Etch on a cotton swab.

Smear the Armour Etch on the scratched areas of the eyeglasses with the cotton swab .

Allow the Armour Etch to sit on the lenses for five minutes. Remove the Armour Etch by running warm water over the eyeglasses.

Blot the lenses until they are dry, with a non-abrasive towel or lens cloth.

Tip

The toothpaste you use on the glass lenses must not be gel-based paste or contain any whiteners as these can cause harm to your eyeglasses. Do not use Armour Etch on glass lenses as the chemicals in the product will damage the glass surface. It is intended only for plastic lenses. Purchase Armour Etch at your local hardware store or from a retail chain such as the Home Depot or Lowe's.

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About the Author

Jason Candanedo is currently a student at Empire State College, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in social theory, social structure and change. He has been writing since August 2008 on his political blog and since September 2009 as a freelance writer for various websites.